Laos 2019
Simply Beauty

• Besides visa in advance which can be applied and obtained at Lao embassy/ consulate, the government issues a 30-day visa on arrival for most foreigners travelling Laos.

• Visa on arrival is valid for 30 days and available at international airports and most land borders). Upon arrival, you should carry a valid passport (must-have), flight tickets, portrait photos and hotel vouchers (if any) to fill in the legal documents.

• For those who are not eligible for a visa on arrival, Lao embassies and consulates abroad offer 30-day tourist visa for a fee and same documentation.

• For further information and support, please visit The Department of Immigration, Lao PDR or contact our journey planners.

• Luxury 5* – 6*: Hotels and resorts in this level, like Amantaka, Sofitel or Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao, range from US $400 – $600, a bit higher than neighbouring countries. The expense may be translated into atmospheric rooms and high-end services as of the private luxury towns, restored colonial villas or new built establishments.

• Deluxe 4*: The amenities for 4* standard are in great values with excellent comforts and inclusive services. As of Santi Resort & Spa, Le Sen Boutique, the prices range from US $105 – $250 for a regular stay.

• Comfort Boutique 3*: Accommodations and services for 3* in Laos are usually related to boutique hotels with block or building moderns, located within good locations. Like Luang Prabang Legend or Nam Ou Riverside, the prices are around US $60 – $100 with advanced values.

• Tuk-tuk: The transport is famous in Laos, especially Vientiane as it is a great way to get a continuous local experience.
• Boats: There are many kinds of boats in Laos (slow boat, speed boat, long tail boat, traditional boat, etc) for tourists to take a cruise along the beautiful Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers.
• Buses: They are the main means of transportation in Laos. Most of buses in Laos are well equipped with air-conditioning and comfortable seats.
• Planes: There are two national airlines and one private airline company in Laos: Lao Airlines, Lao Air and Lao Central Airline that offer many regional flights to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

• Lao cuisine is very similar to the food eaten in the north-eastern Isaan region of Thailand: very spicy, more often bitter than sweet, and using lots of fresh herbs and vegetables served raw.
• Rice is the staple carbohydrate. The standard kind is sticky rice (khao niaow), eaten by hand from small baskets called tip khao. Using your right hand, pinch off a bit, roll into a ball, dip and munch away.
• The national dish is laap, a “salad” of minced meat mixed with herbs, spices, lemon juice and, more often than not, blistering amounts of chili. Unlike Thai larb, the Lao version can use raw meat (dip) instead of cooked meat (suk), and if prepared with seafood makes a tasty, if spicy carpaccio. Another Lao invention is tam maak hung , the spicy green papaya salad known as som tam in Thailand, but which the Lao like to dress with fermented crab (pudem) and a chunky, intense fish sauce called pa daek , resulting in a stronger flavor than the milder, sweeter Thai style. Other popular dishes include ping kai, spicy grilled chicken, and mok pa, fish steamed in a banana leaf.
• The legal drinking/purchasing age of alcoholic beverages is 18. However, there is no legal drinking age when off alcohol selling premises (restaurants, bars, etc.).
• The national drink of Laos is the ubiquitous and tasty Beer Lao, made with Laotian jasmine rice and one of the few Lao exports. It maintains a mythical status amongst travellers and world beer aficionados.

Pack medications in their original, clearly labeled, containers. A signed and dated letter from your physician describing your medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good idea. If you happen to take any regular medication, bring double your needs in case of loss or theft.